Government warns against disregarding labour laws

Government has warned private employment agencies that it will take drastic action against those deviating from the country’s Labour Export Guidelines (LEG).

The warning comes amid reports that two young Malawian women alleged to be working in Iraq as domestic workers are being subjected to harsh working conditions.

In a press statement issued yesterday, Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Francis Kasaila noted that some local private employment agencies and individuals continue to facilitate the migration of young Malawian women to the Middle East for employment as domestic workers.

“This is done in total disregard of the labour export guidelines issued by the Ministry of Labour in August and government’s suspension of the recruitment of domestic workers from Malawi for employment in the Middle East,” said the minister in a statement.

Kasaila has, therefore, urged private employment agencies and labour migrants to familiarise themselves with the LEG to avoid such incidences.

Meanwhile, government has said it has instituted investigations to establish how the alleged young women managed to leave the country, saying whoever facilitated their trip will face the law. n